Editorial: Redskins’ name controversy shouldn’t be a surprise

Midland Reporter-Telegram

Published 5:31 am, Thursday, October 17, 2013

There seems to be a lot of hullabaloo over the Washington Redskins name-change controversy. There also seems to be many people upset with NBC’s football coverage, more specifically, Bob Costas’ lecture about how the name needs to be changed.

In both cases, we ask, “What did you expect?”

As for Costas and NBC, they have made it clear that their football broadcast will include a healthy dose of commentary. And that commentary, whether it deals with gun rights or race, might focus on the hot topic of the day, especially as it pertains to the National Football League.

Some would say keep your opinions from my football, but “Sunday Night Football” draws one of the largest TV audiences of the week, and we can’t say we’re surprised NBC has opted to allow its opinion-makers to have their say. Considering the response to Costas’ commentary, NBC got exactly what it wanted. Want to stop the commentaries? Stop watching the games.

As far as the Redskins’ name is concerned, that is up to team owner Dan Snyder. The Washington Redskins is a business, and if they think it is good business to continue to use a name that some find offensive, then that is on Snyder and those who run the team. The fact is, no one is going to write him a check to alter everything that would have to be altered or replaced to enable such a name change to occur. The Washington Redskins is one of the most valuable franchises in all of sports, so we assume Snyder is a good businessman. We also assume that when being known as the Redskins adversely impacts Snyder’s pocketbook or the NFL, then a change likely will take place.

However, for those who wish this controversy would just go away, we wonder what you expected? At some point this was going to come front and center. We have seen college teams make similar changes. St. John’s University comes to mind. The Redmen became the Red Storm.

We know a decent human being would not approach someone of Native American descent and call that person a “Redskin.” We know if a professional, college or high school team was established tomorrow, they wouldn’t call themselves the “Redskins.”

So is it OK only because the team has been around for so long and there is tradition behind it? Is it political correctness gone wrong? We see the argument that it is not, but still, it’s not our team.

There are reasons why people ask questions and make comments about the Washington Redskins name. We are just not sure how anyone expected a different outcome.